“Canada Strong will help make America great again,” was not a highly anticipated phrase in this political climate, but Carney said it in New York today. Here’s more:

Addressing the Economic Club of New York, Carney outlined Canada’s economic strategy and the progress made so far. The visit is part of his government’s efforts to drum up new international investment.

In his speech, he said Canada is weaving a web of international partnerships that is making it a much stronger, more resilient and more independent country.

He said that’s good for Canadians and also for the United States, because it makes Canada a better ally.

Carney listed several areas where Canada and the U.S. should continue to work together, including the automobile and critical mineral sectors.

“We know that while Canada and the United States have had our differences over the centuries, we have always worked and eventually worked through them, because we share values and our common interests run deep,” he said.

The Canadian Press has more. 

Meanwhile, the Canadian beef sector are very concerned with Ottawa’s other trade deals.

Beef farmers across Ontario gathered in Queen’s Park over a barbecue this week to talk about how a potential Mercosur trade deal with South American countries risks turning Canada into a “backdoor” entry point for cheaper imports into North America.

The trade deal would link the country to a roughly $22-trillion market of more than 700 million consumers. It would also open a pathway to low-cost beef imports from South America.

“We’re already exposed to imports,” Fulton said. “In terms of total domestic consumption of beef, 30 per cent of it is being imported.”

Fulton noted that that’s a “striking number” when Canada is already a large net exporter of beef and live cattle.

“We’re proponents of that free and open trade, but there are implications to the domestic industry when we could just be flooded with products and completely change the incentives for growth and attract the next generation of beef farmers and ranchers,” he said.

Sydney Ko has more. 

Also, Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay is leaving his party’s caucus to run for the Parti Québécois in the fall provincial election.

Savard-Tremblay officially left the Bloc today and is listed as an Independent on the House of Commons website.

A source in the Parti Québécois who was not authorized to speak publicly told The Canadian Press that Savard-Tremblay will represent them in the Oct. 5 election.

The news he is joining the PQ was first reported by Radio-Canada.

The source says Savard-Tremblay will resign as a member of the House of Commons at the start of the summer break.

CP’s got this one too. 

The Liberals are unlikely to pass legislation before the summer recess that would restore Indian status to the descendants of enfranchised First Nations peoples, iPolitics has learned.

A government source said it’s doubtful the bill will clear committee before the start of the summer recess next month as too many stakeholders want to testify at committee.

iPolitics isn’t identifying the source to allow them to speak freely on internal matters.

Bill S-2 was drafted to comply with the Nicholas ruling last year from the B.C. Supreme Court, but has faced an uphill battle in Parliament after senators passed amendments that would end the controversial second-generation cutoff.

Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said while she supports ending the cutoff, more time is needed to consult with impacted First Nations.

Marco Vigliotti has more. 

In Other Headlines

Internationally

Elsewhere, Benjamin Netanyahu has said he has given orders to the Israeli army to seize control of 70% of the Gaza Strip in a move that threatens to torpedo an already fragile ceasefire and create catastrophic humanitarian conditions in the already devastated territory.

Under the US-brokered ceasefire in October, the Israeli army withdrew to a demarcation line which gave Israel direct control of 53% of the occupied territory. Since then, Israeli forces have steadily advanced their positions westward into the Hamas-controlled half of the strip, and declared an ever-expanded no man’s land west of that, within which they claim the right to decide who can enter and open fire on anyone perceived as a threat.

In recent days, Israeli-backed armed militias have taken a leading role in emptying the territory along the ceasefire line, telling residents to vacate their homes or shelters.

Throughout the eight months of the ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued to open fire on Palestinians within range of the “yellow line” splitting the strip, and carry out airstrikes deeper inside western Gaza, killing more than 900 Palestinians since the truce began.

The Guardian has more. 

A ceasefire “hanging by a thread”. A diplomatic process “making progress”. A president “not satisfied”. And explosions echoing around the Gulf.

What to make of the current, confusing state of relations between the US and Iran – are we close to peace or sliding back to war?

The latest word from the White House is that negotiators from both sides have agreed a framework for a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, to allow room for further talks – but that this still needs US President Donald Trump’s approval. This has not been confirmed by Iran.

It comes towards the end of a week that has tested the ceasefire, which came into effect on 8 April and has now lasted considerably longer than the active phase of fighting which preceded it.

Iran responded to the latest US strikes – which included what US Central Command (Centcom) described as a “ground control site” in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas – with a warning that “aggression will not go unanswered”.

Read more from BBC. 

In Other International Headlines

The Kicker

And finally, if trade talks anxiety have you staring into the void this week, at least there’s something interesting to look at.

We’re getting a rare blue micromoon on Sunday. It’s the smallest-looking full moon of the year.

While the moon won’t exactly be blue, but we’ll apparently see the “brilliant star Antares” too.

The next exact combo won’t happen again until 2029.

More from Scripps News.